The Relationship between Resilient Mangroves and Fish Populations in the Largest Marine Reserve in Belize: A Case for Conservation

Abstract

Mangrove forests are one of the most bio-diverse and productive wetland environments on earth. However, these unique tropical forest environments that occupy coastal areas are among the most threatened habitats globally. Approximately one-third of the worlds mangrove forests in tropical and subtropical coastlines have been lost to logging, conversion of land for agriculture and mariculture, and degradation due to general pollution over the past 50 years. The large population of mangroves occupying the Turneffe Atoll area in Belize face growing anthropogenic threats such as permanent clearing of land for housing and infrastructural development as well as pollution and natural factors (climate change). Despite these threats, mangroves have high resilience due to their fast rates of microbial decomposition and nutrient flux, large storage of nutrients below-ground, numerous feedbacks, keystone species redundancy and self-design, and highly efficient biotic controls. Given the few formal studies done to evaluate mangrove resilience at Turneffe Atoll, the purpose of this study was to evaluate mangrove resilience and nursery functions in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. Mangrove fish abundance, forest structure, and prop root length was assessed by means of visual census and point centred quarter method (PCQM) for 11 sites that span across conservation and general use zones. This study found that resilient mangroves (lower vulnerability ranks, higher standing biomass, and higher fish biomass and abundance) exist in conservation and general use zones and warrant the need for improved mangrove conservation measures. Some conservation measures include: greater reduction of non-climate stressors, establishment of more mangrove conservation areas, and implementation of more outreach and educational programmes.